Chief Design Manager

K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting; Rzeszów; On-site; PLN 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional and personal development

International environment

Head of Technical Department potential

Company events

Team collaboration

Job summary

K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting partners with an international manufacturing company to fill the role of Chief Design Manager – R&D. The job involves coordinating a design engineering team across business units and leading technology strategy.

You will drive standardization, analyze market trends, manage the Development Center, and oversee innovation initiatives with customers and suppliers, ensuring alignment with business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a technical field.
• Minimum 8–10 years in engineering roles with progression to technical leadership.
• Minimum 3–5 years in senior engineering leadership (design authority/engineering manager).
• Professional working proficiency in English for documentation and business communication.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate a team of design engineers from all business units (about 50% of time).
• Analyze needs across units and identify technical solutions and improvements (about 25% of time).
• Attend international trade fairs and acquire industry know-how (about 25% of time).
• Oversee technology strategy, standardization of designs, and market trend analysis.
• Lead innovation initiatives with customers and suppliers and manage tech budgets.

Skills

Leadership

Mechanical engineering

Automation

Intralogistics

Change management

Education

Technical degree

Job description

Location:

Rzeszow Area

K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting for 25 years, has been conducting HR consulting projects for global, renowned industrial and service companies as well as new investments.

Our partners develop their businesses thanks to well-matched management staff, managers, leaders, and experienced engineers.

Development, change, success, and satisfaction are the features that make companies and talents grow with us, in accordance with their needs and goals.

PROJECT: Chief Design Manager

Together with our Partner, an international manufacturing company from the machinery industry, we invite you to discuss the role of Project Development Manager - R&D.

Aim Of The Role

• Coordinating a team of design engineers from all business units. About 50% of working time.
• Analyzing the current needs of all business units and identifying appropriate technical solutions and continuous improvement opportunities. About 25% of working time.
• Attending international trade fairs and regularly engaging in activities to acquire industry know-how for the company. About 25% of working time.

Scope Of Responsibilities

• Management of the Company’s Technology Strategy
• Developing and implementing a long-term technology strategy.
• Standardization of designs.
• Analyzing market trends and recommending new technologies.
• Setting technology priorities aligned with business objectives.
• Supervising the company’s Development Center in the area of innovation.
• Leading innovation initiatives (Gemba Walks) with the company’s customers and suppliers.
• Monitoring market trends.
• Project Execution and Oversight
• Conducting standardization and implementing improvements in existing process and product solutions.
• Driving the digitalization of technological solutions.
• Planning, organizing, and coordinating technical projects.
• Cooperating with contractors, suppliers, and technology partners.
• Selecting and supervising technology partners.
• Cost Optimization and Budget Management
• Managing the technology and development budget.
• Analyzing the efficiency of technical resource utilization.
• Executive Support and Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Preparing technical reports and analyses for the Management Board.
• Providing technical advisory support in decision-making processes.

Requirements

• Higher education degree in a technical field.
• Minimum 8 - 10 years in engineering roles; demonstrated progression to technical leadership / design authority level.
• Minimum 3 - 5 years in a senior engineering leadership role (design authority, chief engineer, engineering manager, or comparable).
• English skills (written and spoken): professional working proficiency for documentation, reports, business communication.
• Driving license cat. B is required.
• Strong technical background in mechanical engineering, machinery, metals, production line structures.
• Experience in automation, intralogistics, material handling systems.
• Deep understanding of the full engineering value chain: concept, detailed engineering, interfaces to production and installation.
• International project experience and cooperation with foreign clients and partners.
• Pragmatic, and results-oriented; balances technical authority with operational execution.
• Collaborative, able to influence cross-functional stakeholders.
• Comfortable with change management and continuous improvement.
• Energetic, forward-thinking, and committed to keeping the company at the cutting edge of technical trends.
• Experience in implementing technical standards and working across various organizational levels.
• Experience in R&D.
• Ability to combine a technical perspective with business objectives and make decisions at the executive level.
• Experience in building team competencies, leading organizational change, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Proactive, results-oriented attitude with a focus on innovative solutions supporting company growth.

Our Partner Offers

• Professional and personal development opportunities.
• Positive working environment based on teamwork and unquestionable integrity and professionalism.
• Work in an international environment.
• Opportunity to develop into the Head of Technical Department in the future.
• Company events.

We kindly inform that we will contact only the selected candidates.

Please Add The Following Clause In The Application

I consent to the processing by K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting, my personal data contained in the employment application for the needs of current and future projects. I also agree to share my personal data for purposes related to the recruitment process. I am aware that I have the right to withdraw my consent at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the legality of the processing carried out prior to its withdrawal.

Sending personal data to a wider extent than specified in art. 221 of the Labor Code (eg: telephone, e-mail), constitutes consent to the processing of these data by K&K Selekt Human Resources Consulting, in order to conduct the recruitment projects. The consent can be withdrawn at any time. Withdrawal of consent does not affect the legality of the processing carried out prior to its withdrawal.

The above consent was expressed voluntarily in accordance with art. 4 point 11 RODO (GDPR). I declare that I have been informed about the possibility of access to my personal data and their updates and the possibility of removal or limitation of processing. Information obligation on the RODO (GDPR) in the link: http://www.kkselekt.com/aktualnosci/ustawa_rodo_dane_osobowe/